Book Description

Archaeologists have traced the long history of the people of Nigeria back 2000 years. This new book details its people from the early powerful kingdoms to enslavement and colonization by the Europeans to independence. Candid photographs help show what life is like today at home, at school, in the workplace, and in the cities and villages. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Life in Nigeria
The photographs were colorful and the text full of useful information but how can the author talk about city life without including photographs of hotels, highways, restaurants, cafes and all the trimmings of modern city life. I was surprised, especially since this book was printed in the year 2000. Also in the section about "Variety of Homes" why did the author fail to have pictures of the grand homes in Ikoyi and Victoria Island, homes that are a great testimony to Nigerian architecture? I am tired of people coming up to me and asking me what life is like in Nigeria and whether I live in a hut? It is no wonder they have this view when books like this continue to only depict the poor, deprived lifestyle of Africa (village life) failing to take note of the leaps and bounds we have made towards modernity. ... Read more

Book Description

From Minnesota's autumn leaves to zany times at Como Zoo, photographer Debra Chial captures the essence of Minnesota-A to Z. While learning the alphabet, children ages three and up get a lesson in Minnesota history and facts.

The book's 26 beautiful color photographs show the breathtaking Boundary Waters, a majestic great blue heron, Itasca State Park (source of the Mississippi River), the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race on the North Shore, and Paul Bunyan and his blue ox Babe. The book also lists fun facts for kids such as the state song, muffin, rock, flower, and oldest state park. The fact index lists the largest of the state's 15,291 lakes, state nicknames, and its original residents.

Also recommended: T is for Texas. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

G Is For Good.
What a wonderful way to give little Minnesotans a sense of belonging, to make a connection with the heritage and beauty of their home state. Debra goes through the alphabet, one page per letter, with a short and well-conceived sentence about and a gorgeous photograph capturing the important images that make Minnesota the great state it is.

I'm proud to claim Debra as a personal friend. We share the same hometown, where she is a local celebrity, revered for her extraordinary skills as a photographer. One of her lesser known skills is that of singer. She is the lead vocalist in a country rock band named "Deb & the Other Guys."

As one of the "Other Guys," I enthusiastically endorse "M Is For Minnesota." I recommend buying two copies, one for the nursery, and the other for the coffee table. --Christopher Bonn Jonnes, author of Wake Up Dead.

LOOKIN' GREAT, MINNESOTA
M is for Minnesota, by Debra Chial, makes this reader eager for a trip up north to put myself in those enticing photographs. From A to Z, we see the state at its most beautiful and its most fun; plus, we get a bit of history and facts as well. This would be an excellent book to read to a pre-schooler, or for a early to mid grade schooler's homework project. If one has a personal connection to Minnesota, or has a need for information about the highlights of our 32nd state, this book will fill the bill. Set up in alphabet format, one gorgeous photograph and simple fact on each page, it is appropiate for reading to preschool children. For older kids, maybe up to age 10 and ready for more information, there are two pages of "Quick Facts" relating to the highlights, at the beginning of the book. It would have been helpful had the author listed the page numbers to which these facts pertained, although they are in some order of occurence. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Ideas for Family Vacation Traditions
Well written for a child's view point. Includes planning, safety and packing ideas.Simple, travel friendly (no big deal if it gets dirty or lost) list of supplies. Encourages use of imagination and creativity oneveryone's part... including adults.

Several activities make neatsouvenirs. Our favorite is Live! From the Road - tape recording interviewsthroughout the trip... Fun way to document when you don't want to videotape folk's just sitting in the van or plane. Our older kids ham it up bymaking up songs and silly commercials.Great way to get "at themoment/in their own words" thoughts of younger kids who can'twrite/draw well yet.We make up our own 50s style radio shows includingsound effects or news broadcasts with breaking events, etc. ... Read more

Book Description

Nigeria's varied environments are featured from its tropical forests, lagoons, and swamps to the grassy plains of the savannah. Fascinating text describes the country's weather, including the powerful Harmattan Wind, farming rubber trees, the exotic wildlife, and how END angered rainforests are being protected. ... Read more

Book Description

Known for their joie de vivre, the daily life of the French people is revealed in colorful detail in this new book. France's rich history is explored along with modern life in the city and in the country. Candid photos reveal what family life is like, how children are educated, and how they spend their leisure time. ... Read more

Book Description

For the last 300 years, French culture has influenced the world from politics and art to fashion and cuisine.France the culture celebrates these and other important cultural aspects of France including religion, festivals, science, language, and literature. ... Read more

Book Description

This new book takes readers on a fascinating tour of France from its majestic mountains and quiet countryside to its seemingly endless Mediterranean beaches. Glorious full-color photos help display France's elegant cities, monuments, and many wonders as well as its plants, animals, farming, and industry. ... Read more

Book Description

In this book, journal entries, photographs, maps, diagrams, and original paintings help you imagine what travel was really like in the 1800s. Could you live up to the challenge of a Wells Fargo(r) stagecoach ride across our huge country? Climb on up and hold on tight-you're about to find out! ... Read more

Book Description

"This book grew out of an itch I've always had to see the world, an itch I started scratching some thirty years ago. Since then my wife, Betsy, and I have traveled to Australia, India, Nepal, Botswana, Namibia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Morocco, Egypt, Brazil, Ecuador, the Galdpagos Islands, the Caribbean, Ireland, England, France, Germany, Italy, Lapland, Canada, the western United States, Alaska, the Pribilof Islands, and Baja, Mexico. These travels have provided the inspiration for many of my picture books, but often some of my most memorable travel moments -- my brief acquaintances with people along the way -- don't fit into a thirty-two-page picture book story. Here, then, are some of those people, people who have touched me briefly but powerfully before I've had to move on."

Reviews (2)

Shameless use of a beloved author
What a great idea for a story, especially for those of us who grew up with the Little House books and want to share the experience with our children.How fortunate, however, that I chose to preview this one before passing it along to my daughter.The book really isn't about Wilder at all.The overstory is used as a vehicle by the author to decry the evils of human beings as they take over the planet, littering, polluting and deforesting.

The litany is outrageous.As our young hero searches out the places where Wilder lived, we learn that winters are no longer hard because of destruction of the rain forest, people who drive RV's are hogs, the entire Big Woods has been chopped down for furniture, Lake Pepin is filled with litter, reproductions of historical sites have been turned into tourist traps by capitalists, streets have been paved and Silver Lake turned into a sewage pond.When the young diarist is disappointed that De Smet is not having a civic July 4th celebration her mother responds that the townsfolks must all be home sitting in their air-conditioning.The overall tone of the book is, well, whiney.

I don't think it's necessary to spend another 500 words debunking these points.Some of them are no doubt true.The bottom line is that Ms. Lasky has used a childrens book along with the name of a cherished author to disseminate her political and social views to the young and impressionable.Rhetoric is often at the core of worthwhile adult literature but is sorely misused here.I wonder if the author is getting a royalty from copies of this book sold at those tacky souvenir shops?

Lovely Book -- Bizarre Coincidence!
The photographs are gorgeous, and the story's verysweet and engaging.I bought the book for my eight year old niece, and I'm sure she'll adore it.(I've never read the Laura books, I'm afraid)... The really strange thing, what first caught my eye, is the co-author's name: Meribah Knight.Funny; my name is Mirabai Knight. Both pretty uncommon, aren't they?If the authors ever check this webpage, I'd like to email them.I'm curious about where they found a name like that for their daughter (and let's see... she must be around 15 or 16 now, right?I'm 17.), and how she's doing.Cool bit of serendipity, anyway.(`8 ... Read more